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Archive for the 'Car care' Category

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The first thing you should do if you own a recalled Toyota

January 27th, 2010, 5:05 am by Matt Degen

Toyota recently announced that it is recalling a additional 2.3 million vehicles at risk of having their accelerator pedal get stuck, and then just yesterday dropped the bomb that it is suspending U.S. sales of the eight models affected.

Meanwhile, owners of the models are understandably concerned about their safety and want to know what steps they should take next.

While Toyota has not given specific instructions on what owners of the affected vehicles should do or when a fix will be in affect, Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com, offers this advice:

“I’d get on the phone to the dealership first thing (today) and find out what the plans are. I’m sure Toyota is on the phone with dealers right now. So wherever you bought the car, call and get up as high on the list as you can.”

Anwyl also points out how crucial it is for drivers of the affected vehicles to know what to do in case their car starts accelerating suddenly, both for the cars under this latest recall, as well as for the 4.2 million that were recalled in September.

(Please see links to resources below for other tips on staying safe)

In last year’s recall, Toyota blamed floor mats that could interfere with the accelerator pedal and make it get stuck. Toyota says that 1.7 million cars are affected by both recalls.

For cars affected in this latest recall, Toyota is telling customers that if their vehicle accelerates uncontrollably, the driver should take action with a “firm and steady application of the brakes” until the car stops, at which point the driver should pull over to a safe spot, turn off the car, and contact a Toyota dealer.

For cars affected by the other recall, Toyota has advised customers to remove the driver’s-side floor mat. In both cases, the automaker is figuring out what steps to take next.

“There are millions of these cars on the road,” Anwyl said. “The probability of this happening isn’t very high, but that’s still not very reassuring.”

More resources for staying safe:

In other safety news:

Other recalls:

Posted in: Car care • Recalls • | 35 Comments »

Got a car issue? Auto Motion welcomes ‘Car Talk’ guys Click & Clack

January 25th, 2010, 3:57 pm by Matt Degen

click-and-clackYou’ve asked, and we’ve listened: The “Car Talk” guys are now featured guests on the Auto Motion blog. Every week, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka Click and Clack, will answer a question posed by one of their readers nationwide.

You can find answers to pressing automotive maintenance questions, all with the guys’ witty sense of humor.

You can also check out two months’ worth of archives from Click and Clack answering readers’ questions.

This week, reader Phil wants to know why the logo on his hubcaps always get misaligned. Of course, if he drove a Rolls-Royce, this wouldn’t be an issue, as that British luxury car has, among other crucial features — a system that ensures the RR logo always are aligned on the wheels.

Phil, on the other hand, drives a Saab.

See Click & Clack’s answer to this question, as well as other advice, in their new home on the Auto Motion blog: On the right-hand side of your screen, just below the “Recent posts” blog. There you can also find out how to submit your own question to Click & Clack.

In other car-care news:

Posted in: Car care • | Post a Comment »

My car just got flooded: Will insurance cover the damage?

January 21st, 2010, 2:06 pm by Matt Degen

car-flooded

We’ve all seen the images of cars under water or stalled in flooded intersections due to the severe weather we’ve been experiencing this week. While the first priority for drivers stuck in this situation is to get out safely, a question they soon must face is, “Who’s going to pay for the damage?”

Well, if you have comprehensive insurance as part of your automobile policy, you’ll be covered. If you only have liability coverage, you won’t be so lucky.

“There are a lot of people out there only with liability, which is mandated by the state,” said Pete Moraga, a spokesman with the non-profit Insurance Information Network of California.

“If you only have liability, it will not cover you. If you have comprehensive as part of your insurance, that will cover any type of damage” not related to an accident with another vehicle.

If your car gets stolen, if a tree falls on it, a rock slides into it or there is flooding, those situations are all types covered by comprehensive coverage, Moraga said. Of course, you’ll still have to pay the deductible.

“If you are financing your car, or leasing, (comprehensive insurance) is usually required,” Moraga said. “The bank is ultimately responsible.”

Moraga said that including comprehensive coverage to your plan usually costs an extra $100 to $200 a year.

Is that premium worth the peace of mind?

“It’s a personal decision based on your finances,” he said. “If you have a older car, you may only want liability.”

If you are among the unfortunate drivers whose car was damaged in the storm, here’s what steps you should take:

  1. Call your insurance agent immediately to get the process going on the claim.
  2. Assess the damage and take photos of the car. “Just make sure you have documentation of what’s going on,” Moraga says.
  3. Do everything you can to comply with the insurer.

Your insurance company will usually send an adjuster to your house or the shop where you’re having the car repaired, Moraga says. If the cost to fix the car is worth more than the car is worth, you might have an option to take a payout.

In other news…

(Photo: Sam Gangwer, The Orange County Register)

Posted in: Car care • • • • | 10 Comments »

How a few inches of water can ruin your day — and your car

January 19th, 2010, 12:08 pm by Matt Degen

Amid the wet weather we’ve had and are expecting more of this week, we’ve had an amazing response from everyone concerning driving tips and safety on slick roads.

(See: How to drive safely in the rain: Share your tips)

Still, a lot of drivers think they can just plow through a flooded street or intersection, but in doing so they can pay a big price in both their safety and the risk to their vehicle.

Want to know why driving through even a few inches of water can be a bad idea? The graphic below illustrates it all:

waterflooddanger

In other news:

Posted in: Car care • • • • • | 1 Comment »

How to drive safely in the rain: Share your tips

January 18th, 2010, 11:18 am by Matt Degen

trafficcrash

Weather forecasters are predicting Orange County this week will be hit with the most severe series of storms in at least five years. With all the rain will come the usual accompanying mess on the freeways, with an increase in spinouts, accidents and near misses.

We probably all know that if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights must be, as well, and that you should drive slower to begin with.

That latter advice can’t be emphasized too much, says CHP officer Denise Quesada: “Slow down: That’s something people just don’t seem to get. Even though you may think you are a good driver, for others that may not be the case.”

Now is also the time to be sure your tire pressure is at the proper level, usually indicated on the side of the tire and on a panel in the vehicle itself (usually by the driver-side door). One misperception, Quesada said, is that you should lower the air pressure, but this is not the case.

Finally, Quesada said: “Use common sense. Truly, that’s one thing not in the vehicle code, but it’s so important when you get your license.”

How do you cope with driving in the rain? Do you have advice for your fellow drivers out there on Orange County’s roads and freeways? Share your comments in the area below.

To get you started, here are some more tips from the pros.

  • Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally, advises Edmunds.com. “Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you’re slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.”
  • Most of America’s roads are crowned in the middle, which means that the water will run off to the sides, Edmunds says. If possible, stay toward the middle of the road to avoid deep standing puddles.
  • Also keep in mind that cloudy weather reduces visibility, say the folks at tire maker Goodyear.com.
  • After you cross a puddle, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off some of the water on your rotors, Edmunds says.
  • Finally, here’s another tip from yours truly: I drive a small, rear-wheel-drive roadster with manual transmission and without a decent traction-control system. When starting in first gear in the rain, I really have to feather the clutch so I don’t spin out. I either upshift early or start in second gear.

Share your own tips, advice and gripes in the comment  area below.

Also see:

(Photo: Bruce Chambers, The Orange County Register)

Posted in: Car care • Events • • • | 88 Comments »

My ‘check engine’ light just went on - now what?

December 11th, 2009, 6:15 am by Matt Degen

CarMD Check Engine Light

What’s the one light you dread seeing in your car — aside from the red and blue ones in your rear-view mirror? The one in the dash that erupts telling you to “check engine.”

We’ve probably all been there, and if you’re anything like me you’ve felt pretty helpless at the vagaries that come with that light. Does it mean the engine is about to explode, or is the gas cap just loose? The check engine light, (CEL) can appear for any number of reasons, signaling problems ranging from critical to easily fixable.

When the CEL comes on in your car, you either need to take it to a mechanic who can tell you what the problem is by “reading the code” (a service that can cost $75 alone); take it to an auto-parts store that will lend you a code reader (some offer this for free); or buy one of these readers yourself (expect to pay anywhere from about $30 to nearly $300).

(Update, 12/14: See comments below about law regarding auto-parts stores in California)

Fountain Valley-based CarMD was one of the first companies to offer code readers to consumers, and recently launched a new version of its hand-held tool and corresponding software, now available for PCs and Macs.

Code readers such as the CarMD diagnostic tool work like this: When a check engine light comes on, you plug the device into the car’s on-board diagnostic system (also called the OBD II). These OBDs are located in all cars made since 1996 and are usually found under a panel in the front dash. Once plugged in, the tool will “read the code,” to see what’s ailing your car.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Car care • • | 14 Comments »

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